2026 NBA draft thread

[mvossman]

So better chance Dallas moves up or back?   I think they stay at 9 and prefer they do this, but lets say they reach 9 and Flemings, Acuff and Wagler are all off.  

OKC calls to trade up for Mara.   What if your intel says Bucks wants Ament and GS wants Johnson.  Or lets leave names out.  Lets say you like two players and your intel says neither will be taken by GS or MIL.  Do you move to 12?   Maybe you can get more than 17.   

Zach lowe on the Thunder: "I do think the noise about them attempting to move up in the draft, and potentially way up is true. I'm not sure they can get into the Top 4. But I do think some attempt to move up and maybe grab Aday Mara from Michigan or some other big time player and refresh in that way

If the Mavs move from 9 at all, I think its much more likely they move back than up.  My guess is the Mavs simply pick Brown (or Burries) in the scenario you provide.  If I had to guess it would be that the Mavs are higher on Wagler/Brown/Burries than Acuff/Flemings due to positional size and versatility.  

I'm not sure how certain you can be with what other teams are going to do.  Supposedly Mavs traded back because they thought they could still get Giannis and got burned.  One of the reasons I'm not excited about moving back is that you don't really know what will be left.  But if Ament, Mara and one other guy are picked in top 8 (or 9 if you are picking that guy for trade) then I would be happy to trade back to 12 and 17.  I seriously doubt you can get more than 17.  I'm not sure you wouldn't have to kick in 30 to make that trade happen.

I would be really surprised if OKC trades up for Mara.  That feels like a panic move, and Presti is not known for panic moves.  I think it is more likely he stays at 12 and gets one of the other Michigan guys.